Section 3 of 6, Stour Valley Way
Manston to Blandford St Mary
9.8 miles (15.8 km). About 4 hours, moderate.
Start: ST 817 145. Finish: ST 883 057. OS grid.
Take it with you: download this section's GPX file (it opens in OS Maps, Komoot, Outdooractive or a GPS unit) or open the start in OS Maps.
Up and down
About 383 m of climbing and 392 m of descent; highest point 192 m.
Getting there
The section starts at Manston. We found no car park, station or bus stop near the start: none within a kilometre, no bus stop within 3 km and no station within 10 km (from OpenStreetMap).
Getting back
The section finishes at Blandford St Mary. Stations and bus stops near the finish:
- Bus stops
- Bryanston School Gate, 100 m from the finish. Directions ST 883 058The Maltings, 150 m from the finish. Directions ST 884 059Chettell Way, 200 m from the finish. Directions ST 884 056
What to expect
Underfoot: paved or flagged 33%, gravel and tracks 13%, grass 5%; the rest (48%) isn't recorded.
About 31% on roads with traffic.
On the way: 6 stiles, 5 kissing gates, 3 gates.
Steepest climb: about 112 m in a kilometre (1 in 9), starting 3 miles in.
From OpenStreetMap, where mappers have recorded it: check before you go.
Pubs and cafés
- Pubs
- The Bakers Arms, Child Okeford: 2.7 miles in.White Horse, Stourpaine: 6.1 miles in, about 150 m off the way.
- Café
- Edie-Mae’s, Stourpaine: 6.2 miles in, about 150 m off the way.
As OpenStreetMap records them. Opening times change, so check before you set off.
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